- Is there a first-year program to help students adjust to college? This might include –
- Orientation and pre-orientation programs
- First-year academic programs and seminars
- Peer mentoring or dedicated college staff
- New-student events and activities throughout the year
- What is the approach to first-year housing and residential life? Look for information about –
- First-year students housed together or among mixed classes
- Single rooms or roommates
- Common dorm spaces such as kitchens, lounges, rec rooms
- Dining rooms affiliated with housing or central dining system
- Upper-class students live on campus or off
- How do students find and make community? Ask virtual student ambassadors or tour guides about how they became part of campus communities, such as –
- Common spaces for hanging out and making friends, such as libraries, common rooms, rec center, campus center, the quad
- Clubs and organizations, such as interest clubs, student government and dorm management, recreational sports, music/dance/performance
- Greek life presence on campus
- Classes and departments: first-year seminars, sections, sharing notes, group chats/study groups
- Opportunities to find campus jobs
- Ease of getting off campus and into the local community
- Campus traditions that encourage participation and care
- Campus traditions such as pet-a-pet days, scavenger hunts, relays, carnivals
- What is the culture around dealing with homesickness? Think about –
- Encouraging your student to welcome family visitors but perhaps avoid going home at weekends, during the first semester
- Asking older students how they dealt with homesickness
- Who are you going to call? Anticipate the support system that your student will want to build on campus. How would they handle a rough night? They might connect with –
- Resident advisors (RA’s) in the dorm
- Tutoring and drop-in centers
- Professors
- Peer mentors
- Roommates
- Open counseling hours
- What formal services are available to support mental health, physical health, and learning differences? It can be very helpful to do research on issues including –
- On-campus wellness and mental-health services and if they are available on a reliable and timely basis
- Ease of finding services off campus, when needed
- Campus staff who are trained to provide emergency support or interventions
- Office of Disability Services (or similar) operations and services
- How students feel about campus security
- How do students feel recognized, included, and authentically supported? Ask student ambassadors to share their experiences with –
- Affinity and theme housing and dining
- LGBTQ+ centers and services
- Office of equity and inclusion
- Multicultural and identity centers
- Religious services and holiday celebrations and meals
